we've tried elections. and elections didn't go their way. so they've tried elections -- oh, well, they don't do that then we've got to do something else. it seems to me the ballot box ought to be determinative of what kind of government we have. republicans have repeatedly filibustered motions to proceed. how can you offer amendments or try to improve a bill if you can't even bring it up? they filibuster executive and judicial branch nominees. of course nominations can't be amended. again, belipping th belying thet many republicans use that they're just filling the tree. there's no filling the tree when it comes to nominations. i want to emphasize something. i have been saying awl long the republicans and how they have been using the filibuster. i want to start unequivocally the democrats don't come to this with clean hands. it's been both sides. it depends who's in the majority and who's in the minority. that's all it depends on. and i -- as i said earlier, when i first brought this up in the 1990's, i warned them an escalating arms race. i